EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 58, 12 March 1929, Page 12

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE

ARTHUR'S PASS! VISITATION

■ (By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evening Post ")

CHRISTCHURCH, This D;#.

News from Arthur's Pass says i.hat the havoc, wrought by tho first terrible earthquake :shock on Saturday- night is apparent on all sides. •" Not , a forick chimney in tho township has cseiuped, but no houses have been leveled or rendered permanently unlit for li agitation. . . ■ ■ .

' The memory of the terrifying experiences on Saturday night still '.'lingers witli the residents. Six women anid three children remained in tho townshijp. They were Mrs. Tritt, wife of the 'stationmaster, Mrs. Ileney and one ehi'id, Mrs. Elliott and two children, Mrs. proprietress of the Mountain House, Miss Bichards, one of her assistants, and Mrs. Oscar Coberger, wii.'o of an Alpine guide. Tho mountain sjides bear testimony to the horrors of > Saturday night. Great gaps were toirn out by tho-violent shakings; and hugfj boulders, trees, and debris tumbled fclcwn into valleys with a frightful roar,.

There aro already signs o/f a return to normal in the township, and to-day workmen will start on repairs to the railwaymon'a houses. Soinf)! buildings are badly twisted. The question of compensating the railway mciii for the losses they.have suffered in the destruction of personal property,! is likely to be considered by the Railway Department. It is felt that white the Department may have no legal'responsibility in the matter, the special circumstances warrant something being done for the

Serious damage has bo;en : done to all the roads in the district*, and it is estimated that 'it will cosjrt thousands of pounds to repair them.

The blockage will pui, a stop to tourist trips over the. Pass',

Great relief is felt! that the tunnel escaped damage. ;-. '•'-'■■'